Impeller with axially curving vane extensions to prevent airlock

ABSTRACT

A pump has a housing that includes an inlet to receive a liquid to be pumped, an outlet to provide the liquid being pumped, a pumping chamber between the inlet/outlet; and a motor shaft to rotate in the pumping chamber. The impeller is arranged on the motor shaft, includes radially curved vanes to rotate inside the pumping chamber to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet; and includes anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vane extensions that extend along the axis of the shaft, rotate with one part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part outside the inlet for submerging in liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw the liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially curved vanes to generate pressure to force entrapped air from the pumping chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to provisional patent application Ser.No. 62/033,814 (911-017.043-1//M-RLE-X0014), filed 6 Aug. 2014, which isincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pump; and more particularly to acentrifugal pump having an impeller with vanes for pumping liquid.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, in a centrifugal pump fluid is accelerated throughcentrifugal forces exerted on it by an impeller. The impeller is arotating disk driven by a motor whose front side has vanes protrudingfrom it that transmit energy to the fluid being pumped. The impeller'svanes typically extend close to the inner casing of the pump body nearthe pump's inlet, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1.

In particular, FIG. 1 shows an example of one known centrifugal pumpgenerally indicated as P1 having an impeller 2 with radially curvedvanes 11. In the pump P1, the pumping process will most likely fail whenthe pump's impeller 2 is not fully submerged in liquid when it beginsrotating. The situation in which this is likely to occur is when airbecomes trapped in the pump P1. This situation is called or known as anairlock situation.

As shown in FIG. 2, airlock can occur when liquid from a previouspumping cycle remains in a dip 8 (FIG. 2B) in the piping of thedischarge piping system S of the centrifugal pump P1, but is no longerin the pump chamber 13 of the housing 7 of the centrifugal pump P1itself. For example, compare that shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, where thepump P1 in FIG. 2A can push water through the discharge system S thatincludes the piping having one or more dips 8; and the pump P1 in FIG.2B has water trapped in one “dip” 8 between pumping cycles that causesthe pump P1 to airlock, since air is trapped upstream of the “dip” 8that prevents water to be pumped from entering through the inlet 1 andinto the pump chamber or cavity 13 (FIG. 1) of the pump P1. (In otherwords, the water outside the pump P1 cannot displace through thedischarge system S the air trapped in the pump chamber 13.) Because ofthis, the pump's impeller 2 in FIG. 2B is not touching, and cannottouch, any liquid in the pump chamber 13, and therefore can't force thetrapped air out of the pump P1. The impeller 2 will remain spinning inthe air indefinitely, and the pump P1 will fail to perform its intendedpurpose.

During normal operation, in the typical centrifugal pump configurationshown in FIG. 1 liquid enters through the inlet 1 and is accelerated bythe impeller 2 to its periphery due to centrifugal forces caused by therotation of the impeller 2 from the action of the motor shaft 6 which isdriven by the motor 5. The main flow of the liquid exits through theoutlet 4 to the discharge system shown in FIG. 2. However, in order forthe pumping process to occur, the radially curving vanes 11 must bephysically submerged in some liquid in the pumping chamber or cavity 13.In situations such as that shown and described in relation to FIG. 2B,liquid pumped out from the pump P1, e.g., during the previous pumpingcycles, can become trapped in the piping of the discharge system S. Asshown in FIG. 2B, the liquid from a previous pumping cycle has becomephysically trapped in the “dip” 8 in the outlet hose. This trappedliquid in the dip 8 prevents air from exiting the outlet 4 of the pumpP1 and traps air inside of the pump chamber or cavity 13, which iseffectively composed of the inside of the pump housing or body 7 andthat portion of the hose upstream of the trapped liquid. This cavity oftrapped air prevents the typical centrifugal pump impeller 2 fromcontacting the liquid below the pump P1 and beginning the pumpingprocess, e.g., consistent with the situation shown in FIG. 5.

In view of the aforementioned, there is a need in the art for a pumphaving a better impeller design that overcomes the aforementioned“airlock” problems with the known impeller designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The Impeller Equipped with Anti-airlock AxiallyCurved Vanes

According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the formof apparatus featuring a new and unique anti-airlock impeller configuredto be mounted on a motor shaft of a pump, the anti-airlock impellerhaving radially curved vanes configured to rotate inside a pumpingchamber of a housing of the pump to pump liquid from the pumping chamberto an outlet of the pump, the anti-airlock impeller also havinganti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vane extensionsconfigured to

-   -   extend along an axis of the motor shaft,    -   rotate with one part configured inside the pumping chamber,    -   protrude through the inlet and rotate with another part        configured outside the inlet for submerging in any liquid to be        pumped underneath the pump,    -   draw the liquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and    -   provide the liquid to the radially curved vanes in order to        generate pressure to force any entrapped air out of the pumping        chamber of the housing.

The present invention may also include one or more of the followingfeatures:

The set of axially curving vane extensions may be configured with anaxial vane curvature that is generated through the use of parametricequations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system. By way of example,the set of axially curving vane extensions may be defined by parametricequations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system with t as a sweepparameter, using a set of equations as follows:

x=D*cos(at)*e ^(−bt),

y=D*sin(at)*e ^(−bt), and

z=h−ct ^(n),

-   -   where:    -   a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on the particular        impeller,    -   D is the shaft hub diameter, and    -   h is the extension length.

The radially curving vanes may be configured to provide pumping powerfor providing the liquid to be pumped from the pumping chamber to theoutlet, and the set of axially curving vane extensions may be configuredto force the liquid below the pump to move axially into the pumpingchamber and into the radially curving vanes to be pumped.

Combination of Pump and Anti-Airlock Impeller

According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the formof an apparatus such as a pump featuring a housing in combination withthe new and unique anti-airlock impeller.

The housing may include an inlet configured to receive a liquid to bepumped, an outlet configured to provide the liquid being pumped, apumping chamber formed therein between the inlet and the outlet; and ashaft configured to rotate in relation to the pumping chamber.

Consistent with that set forth above, the anti-airlock impeller may beconfigured on the shaft, and may include radially curved vanesconfigured to rotate inside the pumping chamber to pump the liquid fromthe pumping chamber to the outlet. The anti-airlock impeller may alsoinclude anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vaneextensions configured to extend along the axis of the shaft, rotate withone part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through the inlet androtate with another part outside the inlet for submerging in any liquidto be pumped underneath the pump, draw the liquid through the inlet intothe pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to the radially curved vanesin order to generate pressure to force any entrapped air out of thepumping chamber of the housing.

In operation, the set of axially curving vane extensions is configuredto extend out of the inlet of the housing and cannot be subjected to atrapped air situation inside the pumping chamber or cavity of the pump.

The pump may be a centrifugal pump.

According to some embodiments, the present invention may take the formof an apparatus that includes some combination of the aforementionedfeatures.

One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a betterimpeller design for a pump that overcomes the aforementioned airlockproblems with the known impeller designs. For example, the impellerdesign according to the present invention features the anti-airlockvanes that protrudes out from the bottom of the pump body or housing,which solves the airlock problem that some pumps might otherwiseexperience using the known impeller designs. Because of this, theimpeller design according to the present invention provides an importantcontribution to the state of the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing includes FIGS. 1-8, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, as follows:

FIG. 1 shows a typical centrifugal pump configuration that is known inthe art.

FIG. 2 includes FIGS. 2A and 2B, where FIG. 2A shows a pump positioningthat is likely to cause airlock that is known in the art; and where FIG.2A shows the pump in FIG. 2A in an airlock situation.

FIG. 3 includes FIGS. 3A and 3B each showing a typical impeller havingonly radially curving vanes interior to a pump housing that is known inthe art, where FIG. 3A shows a top view of the typical impeller; andwhere FIG. 3B shows a side view of the typical impeller.

FIG. 4 includes FIGS. 4A and 4B each showing an impeller equipped withanti-airlock vanes, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention, where FIG. 4A shows a top view of the impeller equipped withthe anti-airlock vanes, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention; and where FIG. 4B shows a side view of the impeller equippedwith the anti-airlock vanes, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a bottom part of a pumphaving a pump housing with the typical impeller like that shown in FIG.3 configured therein, which results in the radially curving vanesinterior to the pump housing “spinning in air” in an airlock situation.

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a bottom part of a pumphaving a pump housing with the impeller equipped with the anti-airlockvanes like that shown in FIG. 4 configured therein, where the axiallycurving vanes extensions protrude from a bottom opening in the pumphousing, e.g., into water underneath the pump.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a pump having a pump housing with thetypical impeller like that shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 that is completelyenclosed inside the pump body or housing.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a pump having a pump housing with theimpeller equipped with the anti-airlock vanes like that shown in FIGS. 4and 6 that protrude out from the bottom of the pump body or housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 4, 6 and 8

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the present invention may include, or takethe form of, an anti-airlock impeller generally indicated as 20 (FIG. 4)for configuring in a pump generally indicated as P2 (FIGS. 6 and 8),having a housing 7 (FIGS. 6 and 8).

The housing 7 may include an inlet 1 configured to receive a liquid tobe pumped, an outlet 4 configured to provide the liquid being pumped, apumping chamber 13 formed therein between the inlet 1 and the outlet 4;and a motor shaft 6 configured to rotate in relation to the pumpingchamber 13, e.g., all as shown in FIG. 6.

The anti-airlock impeller 20 may be configured on the motor shaft 6, andmay include radially curved vanes generally indicated as 22 configuredto rotate inside the pumping chamber 13 to pump the liquid from thepumping chamber 13 to the outlet 4 (FIG. 8). In FIG. 4, the impeller 20is shown with a base portion 21, and the radially curved vanes 22 a, 22b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e.

The anti-airlock impeller 20 may also include anti-airlock vanesgenerally indicated as 24 formed as a set of axially curving vaneextensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e configured to extend along theaxis A (FIG. 6) of the motor shaft 6, rotate with one part generallyindicated as 24′ (aka 24 w/ a single prime) inside the pumping chamber13, protrude through the inlet 1 and rotate with another part 24″ (aka24 w/ a double prime) outside the inlet 1 for submerging in any liquidto be pumped that is underneath the pump P2, draw the liquid through theinlet 1 into the pumping chamber 13, and provide the liquid to theradially curved vanes 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e in order to generatepressure to force any entrapped air out of the pumping chamber 13 of thehousing 7.

By way of example, the radially curved vanes 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22e may be configured to curve radially from the periphery or outer rim ofthe anti-airlock impeller 20, spiral inwardly towards the center of theanti-airlock impeller 20 and the axis A of the motor shaft 5, and meetthe axially curving vane extensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e, e.g.,as shown in FIG. 4A. In comparison, and by way of example, the axiallycurving vane extensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e may be configuredto curve axially and spiral about or in relation to the axis A of themotor shaft 5, and extend outwardly from the inlet 1 of the housing 7,e.g., as shown in FIG. 4A.

In FIG. 4, the anti-airlock impeller 20 is shown with five (5) radiallycurved vanes and five (5) axially curving vane extensions, although thescope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the number ofradially curved vanes and/or axially curving vane extensions. Forexample, embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scope of theinvention is intended to include, the anti-airlock impeller 20 havingmore or less than five radially curved vanes and/or axially curving vaneextensions, e.g., including either four radially curved vanes and/orfour axially curving vane extensions, or six radially curved vanesand/or six axially curving vane extensions, etc. By way of furtherexample, embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scope of theinvention is intended to include, the anti-airlock impeller 20 mayinclude a different number of radially curved vanes than axially curvingvane extensions, e.g., including either four radially curved vanesand/or five axially curving vane extensions, or five radially curvedvanes and/or four axially curving vane extensions, etc.

In operation, according to some embodiments of the present invention thepump P2 may include the anti-airlock impeller 20 having the extension orpart 24″ protruding out through the inlet 1 of the pump P2 so as to bein contact with liquid underneath the pump P2 regardless of air that maybe entrapped within the pump P2. This extension or part 24″ may beconfigured with the axially curving vanes 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 ewhich draw or force the liquid to move axially (e.g., in relation to theaxis A) into the pump chamber 13, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6. Once theliquid is inside the pump chamber 13, the radially curving vanes 22 a,22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e can generate enough pressure to force the trappedair out of the pumping system and the pump P2 can operate normally.

The set of axially curving vane extensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 emay be configured to protrude out from below the pump P2 out through thepump inlet 1, e.g., consistent with that shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Theaxially curving vane extensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e protrudeout of the pump inlet 1 for submerging into any water that may be belowthe pump P2, e.g., as shown in FIG. 6. These axially curving vaneextensions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e force the water below the pumpP2 to move axially into the pumping chamber 13 and into the radiallycurving vanes 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e. This anti-airlock impeller20 effectively submerges them and allows them to generate enoughpressure to force any entrapped air out of the pumping system. FIGS. 7and 8 show respectively an exterior view of a pump P1 equipped with atypical impeller that is completely enclosed inside the pump body andnot shown and the anti-airlock impeller 20 having the extension or part24″ that protrudes out from the bottom of the pump P2, according to someembodiments of the present invention respectively.

The Length of Extending Part 24″

The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to anyparticular length or amount that the extension or part 24″ of theanti-airlock impeller 20 extends or protrudes out from the bottom of thepump P2. For example, depending on the particular application, theextension or part 24″ of the anti-airlock impeller 20 may be configuredto extend or protrude more or less out from the bottom of the pump P2.In particular, in some applications, embodiments are envisioned inwhich, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, theextension or part 24″ of the anti-airlock impeller 20 configured toextend or protrude about one inch out from the bottom of the pump P2; inother applications, embodiments are envisioned in which, and the scopeof the invention is intended to include, the extension or part 24″ ofthe anti-airlock impeller 20 configured to extend or protrude more thanone inch (e.g., two inches) out from the bottom of the pump P2; and instill other applications, embodiments are envisioned in which, and thescope of the invention is intended to include, the part 24″ of theanti-airlock vane extension impeller 20 configured to extend or protrudeless than one inch out from the bottom of the pump P2.

The Axial Vane Curvature

The set of axially curving vane extensions may be configured with anaxial vane curvature that is generated through the use of parametricequations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system. By way of example,the axial vane curvature can be generated through the use of the belowparametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system with t asthe sweep parameter:

x=D*cos(at)*e ^(−bt),

y=D*sin(at)*e ^(−bt), and

z=h−ct ^(n),

-   Where:    -   a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on the particular        impeller,    -   D is the shaft hub diameter, and    -   h is the extension length.

However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to theaforementioned axial vane curvature, or any particular axial vanecurvature that is now known, or any particular predetermined parametricequations in the Cartesian x, y, z coordinate system. For example,embodiments are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intendedto include, using other axial vane curvatures that are now known orlater developed in the future, as well as other predetermined parametricequations in the Cartesian x, y, z coordinate system, within the spiritof the underlying invention.

Other Components of the Pump P2

As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the pump P2 includesother components showing in the drawing that do not form per se part ofthe underlying invention, and thus are described in detail. For example,the other components may include the shaft seal 3, the motor 5, themotor shaft 6 and/or a fastener 6 a for coupling the anti-airlockimpeller 20 to the motor shaft 6 of the motor 5, e.g., as shown in FIG.6. These other components are known in the art, and the scope of theinvention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kindthereof that is either now known or later developed in the future.

Possible Applications

Possible applications include: any centrifugal pump which may be used ina situation in which it can airlock.

The Scope of the Invention

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation ormaterial to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein as thebest mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising: an anti-airlock impellerconfigured to be mounted on a motor shaft, the anti-airlock impellerhaving radially curved vanes configured to rotate inside a pumpingchamber of a housing of the pump to pump liquid from the pumping chamberto an outlet of the pump, the anti-airlock impeller also havinganti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vane extensionsconfigured to extend along an axis of the motor shaft, rotate with onepart configured inside the pumping chamber, protrude through the inletand rotate with another part configured outside the inlet for submergingin any liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw the liquid throughthe inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to theradially curved vanes in order to generate pressure to force anyentrapped air out of the pumping chamber of the housing.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the set of axially curving vane extensionsare defined by parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinatesystem with t as a sweep parameter, using a set of equations as follows:x=D*cos(at)*e ^(−bt),y=D*sin(at)*e ^(−bt), andz=h−ct ^(n), where: a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on theparticular impeller, D is the shaft hub diameter, and h is the extensionlength.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radially curvingvanes are configured to provide pumping power for providing the liquidto be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the set ofaxially curving vane extensions is configured to force the liquid belowthe pump to move axially into the pumping chamber and into the radiallycurving vanes to be pumped.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe apparatus comprises the housing having the inlet configured toreceive the liquid to be pumped, the outlet configured to provide theliquid being pumped, the pumping chamber formed therein between theinlet and the outlet; and the motor shaft configured to rotate inrelation to the pumping chamber.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the apparatus comprises a centrifugal pump.
 6. A pumpcomprising: a housing having an inlet configured to receive a liquid tobe pumped, an outlet configured to provide the liquid being pumped, apumping chamber formed therein between the inlet and the outlet; and ashaft configured to rotate in relation to the pumping chamber; and ananti-airlock impeller configured on the shaft, the anti-airlock impellerhaving radially curved vanes configured to rotate inside the pumpingchamber to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet, theanti-airlock impeller also having anti-airlock vanes formed as a set ofaxially curving vane extensions configured to extend along the axis ofthe shaft, rotate with one part inside the pumping chamber, protrudethrough the inlet and rotate with another part outside the inlet forsubmerging in any liquid to be pumped underneath the pump, draw theliquid through the inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide theliquid to the radially curved vanes in order to generate pressure toforce any entrapped air out of the pumping chamber of the housing.
 7. Apump according to claim 6, wherein the set of axially curving vaneextensions are defined by parametric equations in a Cartesian x, y, z,coordinate system with t as a sweep parameter, using a set of equationsas follows:x=D*cos(at)*e ^(−bt),y=D*sin(at)*e ^(−bt), andz=h−ct ^(n), where: a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on theparticular impeller, D is the shaft hub diameter, and h is the extensionlength.
 8. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the radially curvingvanes are configured to provide pumping power for providing the liquidto be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the set ofaxially curving vane extensions is configured to force the liquid belowthe pump to move axially into the pumping chamber and into the radiallycurving vanes to be pumped.
 9. A pump according to claim 6, wherein thepump is a centrifugal pump.
 10. A centrifugal pump comprising: a housinghaving an inlet configured to receive a liquid to be pumped, an outletconfigured to provide the liquid being pumped, a pumping chamber formedtherein between the inlet and the outlet; and a shaft configured torotate in relation to the pumping chamber; and an anti-airlock impellerconfigured on the shaft, the anti-airlock impeller having radiallycurved vanes configured to rotate inside the pumping chamber to pump theliquid from the pumping chamber to the outlet, the anti-airlock impelleralso having anti-airlock vanes formed as a set of axially curving vaneextensions configured to extend along the axis of the shaft, rotate withone part inside the pumping chamber, protrude through the inlet androtate with another part outside the inlet for submerging in any liquidto be pumped underneath the centrifugal pump, draw the liquid throughthe inlet into the pumping chamber, and provide the liquid to theradially curved vanes in order to generate pressure to force anyentrapped air out of the pumping chamber of the housing; the radiallycurving vanes are configured to provide pumping power for providing theliquid to be pumped from the pumping chamber to the outlet, and the setof axially curving vane extensions is configured to force the liquidbelow the centrifugal pump to move axially into the pumping chamber andinto the radially curving vanes to be pumped; and the set of axiallycurving vane extensions being defined by parametric equations in aCartesian x, y, z, coordinate system with t as a sweep parameter, usinga set of equations as follows:x=D*cos(at)*e ^(−bt),y=D*sin(at)*e ^(−bt), andz=h−ct ^(n), where: a, b, c, and n are constants that depend on theparticular impeller, D is the shaft hub diameter, and h is the extensionlength.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set of axiallycurving vane extensions are configured with an axial vane curvature thatis generated through the use of parametric equations in a Cartesian x,y, z, coordinate system.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe parametric equations in the Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate systeminclude t as a sweep parameter.
 13. A pump according to claim 6, whereinthe set of axially curving vane extensions are configured with an axialvane curvature that is generated through the use of parametric equationsin a Cartesian x, y, z, coordinate system.
 14. Apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the parametric equations in the Cartesian x, y, z,coordinate system include t as a sweep parameter.